Printing mechanism for automatic polariscopes



March 17, '1953 o. P. w. BERNHARDT PRINTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC POLARISCOPES Filed Oct. 23, 1950 3 SheetsSheet l OTTO PA UL WALTER BERNHARDT March 17, 1953 o. P. w. BERNHARDT PRINTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC POLARISCOPES Filed Oct. 23, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l I I l l l Ill 25 IN VEN TOR OTTO PAUL WALTER BERNHARDT BY his ATTORNEY March 17, 1953 o. P. w. BERNHARDT 2,631,529

PRINTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC POLARISCOPES Filed Oct. 23, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fi :2; I i hi m muuum m vwuumu l ,5 I" 64 6/ 74 v 1 77 i 9 "I :j' 3

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ama 27;0 PA/L WALTE 6M4 fm h/ls ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 17, 1953 PRINTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC POLARISCOPES Otto Paul Walter Bernhardt, Woodland, Calif., assignor to .Spreckels Sugar Company, San Francisco, -Calif., a corporation of California Application October 23,1950, Serial No. 191,684

My-invention relates to printing mechanisms; andparticularly to a, printing mechanism useful in conjunction with the photoelectric apparatus described and claimed in Patent No. 2,503,808,

of which I am a joint inventor.

One of the important objects of my invention is the provision of a printing mechanism that will accurately indicate and record in terms of percentage the quantity of optically active substance such as sugar in a solution, the quantity of which is proportional to the light rotatory power of the substance as measured by photometric apparatus balanced by photoelectric means.

Another object of my invention is the provision 'of such a, printing mechanism in which the indicia bearing printing disk is brought to a balzanced value indicating position by automatic .means.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a printing mechanism in which the indicia: on the disk are inked simultaneously with the insertion of a tare ticket into printing position; and in which electrically operated means, controlled by the placing of the ticket in printing position, operate to press the ticket against the indicia on the disk to record on the ticket the value indicated.

My invention possesses other objects and features of value, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit :myself to the showing made by the said description, and the drawings, as I may :adopt variant forms .of my invention within the scope of the'appended claims.

' Referring to the drawings:.Fig. 1 is a plan view of the printing mechanism cf.my invention togather with its mechanical inter-connection with the balancing lever and phase-sensitive balancing motor of the photoelectric automatically balanc- .ing polariscope. Fig. l-A is a continuation of Fig. 1 on Sheet #2 of the drawings and showing the pivotal connection at the other end of the balancing lever. The scale of Figs. 1 and l-A is approximately half-size.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Fig. l; and Fig. :3 is avertica'l section taken in the plane indicated by the line3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a vertical'sectional view'takenin the same plane .asjFig. 3 but with the platen in its uppermost position, and Fig. 5 is a, diagrammatic view showing the electrical circuit of the printing mechanism; andliig. 6' isafragmentary bottom view showing the indiciaon the underside of the printing disk and arcuate plate.

5 Claims. (01. 101-93) Broadly, the ticket printing mechanism of my invention comprises a main frame composed of spaced parallel plates on one of which is rotatably mounted suitable indicia printing means. A phase-sensitive motor, common to the printing mechanism and to a photoelectric automatically balancing polariscope, is utilized to rotate the indicia means to a position determined by the intensity of electrical impulses induced in a phototube by light passing through the optical system of the polariscope. The printing disk is rotatable to a position which will indicate the percentage of sugar in a sample solution. Means are also provided for placing a tare ticket to be printed in printing position. This is accomplished by providing a second frame slidable on the main frame. With the ticket in place, the manually initiated movement of the second frame acts to simultaneously apply ink to the indicia, place the ticket in position to be printed, and trip a switch controlling the movement of an electrically operated platen which presses the ticket against the indicia. A spring then effects the recovery movement of the scond frame.

In greater detail and referring now to the drawings, the ticket printing mechanism of my invention includes a main frame having a top plate 2 and a base plate 3, the plates being held in spaced parallelism by tubular posts 4. The plates are conveniently rectangular in shape, with the posts positioned adjacent the corners and held by screws 6.

Rigidly mounted on the base plate 3 is a bearing stud 1, held by a nut 8 on the reduced end 9, extending through the base plate. At its upper end, the stud is reduced in a shaft portion I 2, seated in anaperture in the .top plate to further insure its rigid mounting. g Y

Means are provided for printing a tare ticket with indicia. representing the percentage ofsugar in a sample-of syrup. These include a printing .disk l3 bearing indicia M on its underside and which is fixedly connected for rotation with the driven pulley [5 by a screw 5 threaded into the pulley through the disk. Both disk and pulley are journaled on the fixed shaft constituting the upper portion I2 of the stud 1, so that there is slight clearance between the upper face of the disk and the under side of the top plate 2.

In order that a base or zero point may be established correlated to the value or percentage of' sugar ina sample solution as indicated by the indicia. on the printing disk, an indicia bearing arcuate plate I! is provided. The arcua-te plate is a lateral extension contiguous to the disk edge,

and is mounted on the arm l8, interposed in the space provided between the printing disk and the top plate. A thumb nut l9 threaded to a stud 2|, rigidly mounted on the arm and extending upwardly through the arcuate slot 22 in the top plate, controls the setting of the zero point on the arcuate plate to a position opposite the zero point as indicated on the top surface of the;- printing disk. When this condition exists, the

zero point on the underside of the disk is exactly opposite the evaluating indicia pointer 23 on the underside of the arcuate plate; and the printing mechanism may be considered to be synchronized with the photoelectric automatically balancing polariscope.

In order that the function of the correlated printing disk and indicia bearing arcuate plate shall be clear, it is pertinent to explain at this .point the driving means for my printing mech- .anism as used in conjunction with the photoelec tric apparatus as described and claimed in Patent No. 2,503,808.

As has been described and claimed in that patent, a phase-sensitive reversible motor is utilized for balancing the photoelectric apparatus. The operation is based on the fact that in a Lippich double field polarizer, the incident light receives a different treatment in the two halves of the field insofar as the plane of polarization in 'one half of the field differs from that of the other half by a small angle, generally called the halfshadow angle. When the analyzer is so oriented that its plane of polarization essentially bisects the half-shadow angle, the halves of the field transmit the same amount of light and the field appears evenly illuminated. When a substance of rotatory power, such as a concentrated sugar solution, is placed between the polarizer and analyzer, the halves of the field no longer appear equally bright. A movement of the quartz compensator wedge in the proper direction then again restores the field to balance.

In the automatically balancingpolariscope of the patent referred itoha revolving semi-circular shutter scans the field continuously at a rate of 3600 revolutions per .minute. Thus, inthe case of an unbalanced field, the intensity .of the light reaching the phototube varies between a minimum and a maximum. The current passed by the anode of the phototube varies with the intensity of the light; and since this occurs 3600 times per minute the fphototube and the amplifier connected thereto produce a60 cycle alternatingcurrent. Thero- Qtating shutter is so positioned that the resultant alternating current is always either 90 or 270 out of phase with the'main line alternating current, depending on which side of the field is darker.

The combination of main line alternating current and that produced by the amplifier causes the balancing phase-sensitive motor to operate. The rotation is either clockwise or counter-clockwise, depending on the direction of unbalance.

-' The mechanical connections are so arranged that the quartz compensator is always driven toward the pointof balance.

. so that at the balance oint, the percentage of sugar inthe sample solution, which has been introduced into the sample chamber is evaluated 4 by the rotation of the printing disk away from the base or zero pointer 23. This value may be pivot pin 5| .matically balancing polariscope comprises a stiff steel lever 26, pivotally mounted at one end by pin 2'! on a slide block 28 arranged in the slideway 29 and adjustable by screw 3 I. The slideway is fixedly mounted on the same base (not shown) which supports the plate 3 of the printing mech anism.

, At the. other end, the lever is pivotally mounted by pin 34 on the slide block 36, the pinextending through a slot 31 in the lever to permit slight longitudinal movement of the lever. The block is slidably arranged in a slideway 38, which like the slideway 29 is fixed on the same base with the printing mechanism.

Movement of the slide block and pivot pin, and consequently of the lever 26, is effected by a tempered steel wire as, looped about and fixed to the pulley 15 on the printing mechanism; and extending around the driving pulley 4|. The latter pulley is driven by the belt 42 from the phasesensitive motor 43. Preferably, the wire 39 is dead-ended on the pulley l5 and held under high mechanical tension by screws 44 in the flanges of the pulley l5.

In order to insure that rotational movement of the motor will result in corresponding movement of the slide block and pivot pin, and consequently of the lever 26, one reach of the steel wire 39 is securely fastened to the slide block by a clamp 46 held in place by screws 41. It is'apparent therefor, that rotation of the motor results in rotation of the printing disk to a value indicating position; and that the rotation is proportional to movement of the slide block and lever, which in turn move the compensator which againin turn, through the action of the phototube, controls the motor.

The quartz compensator is affected by th 'movement of the lever through the following means. In'terposed between the ends of the lever 26 and spaced 9. short distance from the pivot21 is a third pivotal connection. This comprises a slide block 48 supported in a slideway 49.' A on the block extends upwardly through the slot 52 in the lever. It is the function of this slide block to adjust the position of the quartz compensator of the apparatus in a direction which will tend to equalize the intensity of light emitted from both halves of the field, and thereby balance the apparatus. Movement of the slide block 36 by the balancing motor results in a proportionately smallermovement of the slide block 48 and of the balancing quartz compensator, which is connected thereto. The proportionality of this movement is adjustable through the screw positioned slide block 28. Preferably, lost motion in the mechanical linkage is prevented through the use of tapered spring-loaded pivots and precision dovetail slides throughout. l I 1 Means are provided for transferring the percentage of sugar in the sample solution, as indicated on the disk, to a tare ticket.

A frame 56 mounted on the underside of the top plate 2, is folded over upon itself to provide' a pocket 51, in whicha tare ticket may be sup- 4 ported. The front end of the frame has a han- 1 dle 58, and its rear end at the fold is formed with a rectangular recess 59. The frameis alsoprovided with parallel slide rods 6| slidably arranged agcsncz-c in'spaced' brackets 62 secure'dto the "top plate by screws'83.

At'their'extreme ends, each of the rods is connected to a bracket by a tension spring 64. As can be-seen in Figs. 1, 3 and '4, the springs work against manual pressure applied to the frame tending to place the ticket in position to be printed, and restore the frame to its position shown in Figs. 1 and'3, from the position shown in Fig. 4.

' Ink is applied to the indicia on the printing disk and arcuate plate by an'ink saturated fabric roller 65 journaled on a shaft 66 supported on lugs 61 mounted on the frame 56, so as to position the roller immediately behind the pocket 51. As the operator pushes in on the frame in which a ticket has been placed, the roller moves toward the indicia, applying ink as it passes thereunder. The parts are 'so proportioned and arranged that when the roller has cleared-the indicia, thatpart'o'f theticket'which lies within the recess is directly under the indicia and inposition -.tobe printed.

When the frame reaches this position, means .mountedon the frame has initiated the operation of mechanism to press the ticket against the indicia. .Alaterally extending arm 68 is pivotally mounted at one end on the underside of the ticket supporting frame by a pivot bolt 69 set in the bracket T0, rigidly depending from the frame.

At its other end the arm is provided with a shoe Tl .having'a rearwardly extending arm 12 and a forwardly extending arm 13. As the frame moves away from the operator to place the ticket in position to be printed, the arm 12 strikes the actuating lever 14 of the micro-switch 15. Movement of the lever closes the circuit between the main line and the solenoid 16, which is mounted on a cross bar 11 secured to the base plate 3 by screws 18. The energized solenoid propels the platen 19 upwardly, striking the underside of the ticket and pressing it against the indicia.

Projecting from one side of the platen is a lug 80. As the platen moves upwardly propelled by the solenoid, the lug contacts the arm 13, lifting the arm 12 clear of the micro-switch lever. This breaks the circuit and allows the platen to return to its position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Contact of the lug 80 with the arm 13 is effected at a time when the platen is just short of being at its uppermost position; and it is left to momentum to carry the platen to the top. A rubber pad BI on the platen absorbs some of the shock as the platen strikes the ticket and disk, and also acts as a resilient bumper to propel the platen downward. Gravity also assists in restoring the platen to its lower position.

The operator now releases the frame, and the springs 64 return it to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3; the printed ticket is withdrawn and the printing mechanism is ready foranother cycle.

In ordinary laboratory practice the percentage of sugar content in a sample solution is generally read to within one-tenth of one percent. In my printing mechanism, the graduations on the printing disk are conveniently in steps of onetenth of one percent, and the reading of the zero point on the arcuate plate H is customarily to the nearest graduation, that is, to the nearest onetenth of one percent. If greater accuracy is desired, the exact position of the zero point may be estimated to one one-hundredths of one percent. With my printing mechanism, polarizations may be read and printed at the rate of one every nine seconds or approximately 400 samples 'per hour.

I claim:

1. In a ticket printing mechanism-of the'character described, a frame having a pair of spaced parallel plates, an indicia bearing printing disk rotatably mounted on one of the platesand adjacent the other plate, indicia'bearing means adjacent the printing disk and interposed between the disk and said other plate for correlation with said indicia bearing printing disk, means slidably mounted on said other plate for supporting the ticket to be printed, roller means mounted on the ticket supporting means for applying ink to the printing disk and indicia bearing means, a platen movably supported on said first mentioned plate and underlying the unprinted ticket, automatically controlled motor means for rotating the printing disk to a value indicating position, electrical means mounted on said first mentioned plate for'operating the platen to press the ticket against the indicia of the printing disk and indicia bearing means, and 'manually operated switch means arranged on'said first mentioned plate for controlling said electrical means.

2. In a ticket printing mechanism of the character described, a frame having a top plate and a bottom plate, an indicia bearing printing disk rotatably interposed between said top and bottom plates, an indicia bearing arcuate plate disposed circumferentially adjacent the printing disk'and pivotally adjustable adjacent the top plate for correlation with the indicia bearing printing disk, a second frame slidably mounted on the top plate for supporting the ticket to be printed, roller means mounted on said second frame for applying ink to said printing disk and said arcuate plate, a platen movably supported on the bottom plate and underlying the unprinted ticket, automatically controlled motor means for rotating said printing disk to a value indicating position, electrical means mounted on said bottom plate for operating said platen to press the ticket against the printing disk and said arcuate plate, and manually operated switch means arranged on the bottom plate and controlled by movement of said second frame for controlling said electrical means.

3. In a ticket printing mechanism of the character described, a frame having a pair of spaced parallel plates, an indicia bearing printing disk rotatably mounted on one of the plates and adjacent the other plate, an indicia bearing arcuate plate circumferentially disposed adjacent the printing disk and pivotally adjustable adjacent the other said plate for correlation with the indicia bearing printing disk when the latter has been rotated to a position indicating values to be recorded, means slidably mounted on said other plate for supporting the ticket to be printed, roller means mounted on the ticket supporting means for applying ink to the printing disk and indicia bearing means, a platen movably supported on said first mentioned plate and underlying the unprinted ticket, automatically controlled motor means for rotating the printing disk to a value indicating position, electrical means mounted on said first mentioned plate for operating the platen to press the ticket against the indicia of the printing disk and arcuate plate, and manually operated switch means arranged on said first mentioned plate for controlling said electrical means.

4. In a ticket printing mechanism of the character described, a frame having a pair of spaced parallel plates, a printing disk bearing indicia mounted on one of the plates and adjacent the other plate and rotatable to a position indicating values to be recorded, indicia bearing means adjacent the printing disk and interposed between the disk and said other plate for correlation with said indicia bearing printing disk, means slidably mounted on said other plate for supporting the ticket to be printed, roller means mounted on the ticket supportingmeans for applying ink to the printing disk and indicia bearing means after the two have been correlated to indicate values to be recorded, a platen movably supported on said first mentioned plate and underlying the unprinted ticket, automatically controlled motor means for rotating the printing disk to a value indicating position, electrical means mounted on said first mentioned plate for operating the platen to press the ticket against the indicia of the printing disk and indicia bearing means, and manually operated switch means arranged on said first mentioned plate for controlling said electrical means.

5. A ticket printing mechanism including a frame having a top plate and a bottom plate, a printing disk bearing indicia mounted on the bottom plate and adjacent the top plate and rotatable to a position indicating values to be recorded, motor means for rotating said printing disk to said value indicating position, an indicia bearing arcuate plate mounted on the frame contiguous to the disk edge and pivotally adjustable about the rotational axis of the printing disk, the indicia of each said printing disk and arcuate plate being correlated to the other when the disk has reached its value indicating position, a second frame slidably mounted on the top plate for supporting the ticket to be printed, roller means mounted on said second frame for applying ink to said printing disk and arcuate plate coincident with movement of the second frame to place the ticket in position to be printed, a platen movably supported on the bottom plate and underlying the ticket, electrical means mounted on said bottom plate for operating said platen to press the ticket against the printing disk and said arcuate plate, and manual- 1y operated switch means arranged on the bottom plate and controlled by said movement of the second frame for controlling said electrical means.

O'I'IO PAUL WALTER BERNHARDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 832,271 Osborn Oct. 2, 1906 1,329,449 White Feb. 3, 1920 1,861,572 Jackson June 7, 1932 2,088,297 Koenig, Jr July 27, 1937 2,209,717 Fairchild et al July 30, 1940 2,376,311 Hood May 15, 1945 2,443,137 Hogan June 8, 1948 2,470,622 Keuper May 17, 1949 2,503,808 Earl et a1 Apr. 11, 1950 2,528,924 Vassy Nov. 7, 1950 

